A Beta Before An Alpha

Zac's point of View

I put on a tailored navy blue suit, with a white dress shirt, and when I'm all dressed, and ready I walk back into the bathroom to check on Lauren's progress. She is finishing up on her makeup. Her hair is already done and it's got some cu in it now, and she's wearing it down. Her lips are red, and she’s leaned in close to the mirror while she puts on eyeliner. I have never seen someone more beautiful. Even when she rolls out of bed in the morning, she’s perfect with her tousled hair, and fresh face. “You're so beautiful”

She pauses doing her makeup and looks at me through the mirror smiling. “You're so sweet. And you look really handsome,” she turns to look at me.

“You fill that suit out really nicely. Turn around, let me see it," she orders. I can't help but laugh, as I turn around, and stic out my a*s for her.

“You seriously have a really nice a*s. I never noticed a guy's a*s before yours” I turn my head and give her a cocky smile, and she just laughs at me and swats my a*s as I start walking back into the bedroom.

Ill let her finish getting ready, we need to leave soon, and I don't want to distract her. I sit on the bed and check a few wo emails while I wait for her.

“What shoes do you think babe?” She asks, walking out of her closet.

“Wow! You look incredible!” She's wearing a black lace dress that hugs her body tightly. It has long lace sleeves and no cleavage. It falls about mid-thigh and it shows off her beautiful legs.

“Thank you. What do you think? The silver or pink heels?” She asks. She has one of each on each foot and does a little sp so I get a look at both shoes from different angles. I don't notice the shoes though, I notice her exposed back. From the front, everything is covered, so I wasn't expecting to see her bareback.

“Are you wearing a bra?"

“No, but you're supposed to be looking at my shoes,” she looks at me, brows raised.

“That dress, wow. Just wow," I blab out. I'm at a loss for words.

“Thank you,” she blushes. “I think I'm going to go for my gold sparkly heels instead,” she decides, with no help from me. Finally, she comes out in gold heels, holding a grey dress coat, and a little purse.

“Let me help you with that," I grab her coat and help her get it on.

“Thanks, babe. Always such a gentleman,” she smiles and leans in to give me a little kiss.

“You smell 50 good,” she groans. I smile and pull her in so I can hold her closer and kiss her again. It's slow and tender. I hope she really knows how much I love her. I'm so excited for tonight. I like that she'll have a symbol on her finger for all see that she's taken.

'm not nervous at all. Not to marry her, or get engaged, or anything that comes along with that. I do want everything to g smoothly tonight though. I hope she loves the ring, and I hope I can get my words out like I have them planned. I wonder she suspects anything.

The drive into the city was nice. We always have so much to talk about, and it's just so easy being together. One minute we'll be talking about something very serious and intimate, and the next we're laughing at something. When we pull into “Chateau Noir, the nerves are starting to kick in a little. I really want this to be a special moment for her.

“Wow this is incredible,” she smiles as we pull in. Once I park, I lead Lauren inside with my hand on her back. I take Lauren's coat, and we're soon being guided to our table. Our table is a little more private, close to the large glass panes overlooking the lake.

“It's so pretty in here,” she admits, and her eyes are scanning the room. The tall ceilings, the chandeliers, letting off a dimmed lit atmosphere, the green fabric chairs and the gold accents all make this place look very regal.

Jeffrey, our waiter brings us menus and takes our drink orders. I met Jeffrey a few hours ago. I told Jack I needed to duck out a little bit earlier for engagement stuff, and he was more than happy to cover for me.

I came in, dropping off my purchase from “BAKED, with instructions. They had me speak directly to the waiter that would I serving us tonight so that my request was followed through perfectly. He smiles knowingly at me, and I only hope Lauren didn't catch that.

Lauren's point of view

I can't believe the place Zac brought me to. It literally looks like a castle. I guess I should have suspected as much with th name “Chateau” in it. Looking out the window beside our table, it overlooks a beautiful lake. The sun is nearly set, and th last bit of light reflecting off the lake is beyond beautiful...

“That view... incredible,” I say.

“I agree,” Zac says, looking at me. Super cheesy, but still has me blushing, and smiling wide.

He reaches his hand across our table, and I meet him halfway with mine.

“Love you!" he smiles.

“I love you." We hold each other's gaze for a little before getting to the menus.

“Everything sounds so good,” Zac says.

“I know."

“I think we should order a bunch of stuff because everything sounds too good, how will we make up our mind?”

This place is super expensive. “You'll spend a small fortune if you do that," I laugh.

“Who cares. It'll be fun. We don't have to worry about money. Not really. We're ... comfortable” he says with a smile.

“WE are, are we?” I question.

“What's mine is yours, and yeah... we do alright,” he says while looking over his menu. I know he does alright. More than alright. He had me do filing, so I saw some bank statements and invoices.

I couldn't pronounce anything that we ordered, because everything was in french. Thankfully the description below was i English 50 we knew what we were ordering. To start we got a brie with jam platter, and scallops. As soon as the appetizer: are brought to our table, we dig in. It's all so delicious, and we are enjoying every bit of it.

Soon our entrees are being delivered to our table. We ordered 5 plates, a salmon, 2 different steaks, a lamb, and a chicke dish.

“This is a lot of food,” I wince at Zac. *

save room for dessert, okay...“ he smiles broadly at me.

“We don't need dessert’

“We do need dessert, they have caaaaake,” he says, extending the word cake to tempt me. I just smile. He knows me so well. I can't resist cake.

We pick from plates and enjoy the food. It may have been expensive, but it was also so good. I'm having so much fun. I always have fun with Zac, but its nice to get away from the pack, and just have some alone time. When we're done the waiter starts taking plates away, and as soon as he's walking away, Zac grabs my hands.

“Lauren, I want you to know how much you mean to me. From the first time I met you, you made me acutely aware of how empty my life was without you. You came in like a hurricane, shaking me up, and it was the best thing that could have ev happened to me. You feel like home. Immediately you filled my heart and soul with so much warmth that I needed to be near you. You're kind and funny, you're smart and selfless, and compassionate. You have a way of taking care of everyone around you. I'm in awe of you and your heart all the time. Your capacity for love is unlike anything I have ever witnessed. am blessed BLESSED beyond comprehension, that Moon goddess paired me with you. I feel blessed that our children are going to have you as a mother, and I get you as a Luna, a friend, a partner and a lover. It doesn't matter what I'm doing, everything's better with you. If you're there with me, 1 feel whole. When you leave, I feel it. 1 am head over heels in love w you. 1 want you to know that I will take care of you, I will protect you, I'l be loyal to you, and respect you always. There wi never be a time in my life where I will put anything or anyone above you. I promise I will spend the rest of my life trying t be deserving of you and your love. I love you more than anything” he says.

I feel the tears streaming down my face. Zac gives my hands a kiss and then looks to the side, and the waiter is there witt gold-looking tray. I hadn't even noticed him. Zac nods to him, and he places it on the table in front of me.

My breath catches, and the tears are coming down even more now. My hands are covering my mouth. The platter has cupcakes, each one with glittery cursive letters sticking out from it.

An “M" came from the first, and then an A, on the next. Spelling out,

“MARRYME?"

I look to Zac, and he gets down on one knee in front of me and pulls out a box. He doesn't have a chance to say anything else, or even open the box. I nod and pull him in and kiss him. I hear people clapping around us. When I pull away Zac stands up, taking me with him in his arms. He holds me tight, my feet off the floor and kisses me again. “I love you," I say through tears and laughter.

“I love you too baby. You have no idea how happy I am," he says, as our foreheads touch, and he looks me in the eye. “You have no idea how happy you made me. I had no idea you were going to do this" I laugh. He puts me down.

“You didn't even let me open the box,” he smiles, sniffles, and wipes his eye. Oh my gosh, he's tearing up a little. He open the box, and my eyes are wide. It's gorgeous.

“It's the most beautiful ring that I've ever seen, and it's rose gold. Rose gold is my favourite," I look at him, and he's beaming.

“It felt like it would suit you,” he admits, as he places it on my finger. It's very sparkly. I pull him into one more hug, and then we finally sit.

“Thank you for doing all this. You really made this so special. I want you to know that I feel the same way about you. Whe we met, my heart was so afraid of trusting anyone. Somehow you wrapped me up with all the love you have in you. You made me feel safe, protected, loved and I instantly knew I could trust you. You have no idea the healing you did inside m I totally get the whole home analogy because that is exactly what you feel like to me. In your arms, I'm safe and loved. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world to get to call you mine. To be able to have you, body, mind and soul is beyond what thought was possible. I love you, and I think you should know that your laugh brings me more joy than literally anything i the world," I confess.

He smiles broadly, and leans over and gives me another kiss.

“We should get the cupcakes to go," I smile flirtatiously. I just want to be close to him. Hold him, kiss him, have him. “That sounds perfect!” He waved the waiter over and asked for the cupcakes to go. Zac pays, and he grabs my coat, but doesn't give it to me, and puts his hand on my back, guiding me away from the front door.

“Where are we going?” I ask. He flashes me a key card.

“You got a room?" I ask, surprised. He smiles, nods, and kisses my cheek.

I'm excited that we don't have to drive half an hour right now to get home. I don’t want to wait.